Community Empowerment Program

At Tostan we believe that every human being – woman, man, and child – has the right to human dignity.

Human Rights-Based – Knowledge of human rights and dignity for all is the foundation for learning.

Respectful & Inclusive – Information is shared in a non-judgmental, inclusive way to create open dialogue.

Holistic & Sustainable – Our program covers five key impact areas and has sustainability at its core.

We envision a world where everyone is treated equally and respectfully; where they are able to live a life free from harm; where they have the tools they need to determine their own future and fulfill their potential.

Our Community Empowerment Program empowers communities to change their own lives.

We use a human rights-based approach that ensures everything we do reinforces human rights and responsibilities.

At the beginning of the Community Empowerment Program, communities create committees to lead future development initiatives.

Communities create 17-member democratically-selected Community Management Committees (CMCs) trained in project management and social mobilization skills by Tostan. These committees continue to lead development projects that are relevant to their community needs, long after the community has completed the Tostan program.

Through our Empowered Communities Network we connect CMCs with other organizations for resources and skills needed to continue their community development.